October 21, 2008

so·cial·ism

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods2 a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

In the last four weeks, President Bush has proposed a $700-billion bailout of the financial sector, pressed his Treasury secretary to push equity into the system and met with key world leaders on how to regulate the global markets.

"The fly in the ointment for this socialism argument is the recent bank bailout," Larry Sabato, who heads the University of Virginia's nonpartisan Center for Politics, told CNN. "That's probably the most egregious example of socialism in American history."

On Sunday, Fox News' Chris Wallace asked McCain about whether he's as much a socialist as the rest of us. Here's their exchange.

WALLACE: But, Senator, you voted for the $700-billion bailout that's being used partially to nationalize American banks. Isn't that socialism?

MCCAIN: That is reacting to a crisis that's due to greed and excess in Washington. And what this administration is doing wrong, and what Paulson is doing wrong, is not going out and buying up home loan mortgages, home mortgages, and giving people new mortgages at the new value of their home so they can stay in their home. They're bailing out the banks. They're bailing out these institutions.

WALLACE: But you voted for that.

MCCAIN: Of course. It was a package that had to be enacted because the economy was about to go into the tank.... That's the reason why we have governments, to help those who need help, who can't help themselves, and when time of crisis to step in and do what's necessary to preserve the lives and futures of innocent people. It wasn't Main Street America that caused this. It was Washington and Wall Street.

14 comments:

Nevermind that all Western democracies are some mix of socialism and capitalism, with our European allies and Canada a little closer to the socialism end of the spectrum.

But we have socialism in the US. In the early part of the 20th century, socialism was enormous popular in the mid-west and upper Great Lakes area. Social Security, which is a form of socialism, was an idea that came from...KANSAS!

Socialism simply isn't a dirty word; most people don't even know what it means and those who are assailing it so visciously at the moment seem to be completely oblivious to the fact that they have grown up in a mixed economy with enormous socialist programs like the military, Social Security, Medicare, welfare for large corporations, etc.

If they really knew what they were talking about and were generally opposed to socialism(and some of them probably are) they wouldn't have just started raising hell about it now.

Again, another example of how conservatives SIMPLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE WORLD WORKS.

John K: The left has now reached the point they did with Bush. No matter what the guy does he will be criticized for his actions. Which once again makes arguments from the loony left weak. Really weak.

Do you remember the scene, right at the beginning of one of the Police Squad movies (maybe the first), where Gorbachav, Castro, Ayatollah Kohmeni and all these other terrorists/bad guys were meeting, and Frank Drebben beats them all up? If they re-made that scene today, they would include Obama and an ACORN person.

Of course most conservatives understand what socialism is, but more importantly they understand the effect the word has on the voting public. Americans vote in the largest numbers percentage wise at 40 and older (probably most accurately 60 and older), and those Americans remember the cold war clearly. On the Burgh report conservative commenters are arguing that if he doesn't turn America into a dictatorship like the Soviet Union, Barack Obama will at least turn us into Europe, where they have had no growth and high unemployment for sixty years, and where their young people who have any ambition come to the US and get jobs that pay money. The argument is silly (they further state that Europe is re-writing its laws to exclude refugees, but they are also bracing for their economies to crash when Obama ruins our economy), but it would play well with Limbaugh fans. That’s got to part of the reason the race is close when ... what, over 90% of America thinks the country is headed in the wrong direction (under Bush).

John K: As for socialism, Wilson, a liberal, started us down this path. It is a dirty word. The problem with the left is they fail to take ownership of the results of socialism. Inner cities like Pittsburgh for example. So stand up for Chuck and take ownership of the results of socialism lefties. Be proud of low high school graduation rates and increasing crime rates in inner cities. Be happy you are helping to destroy the family. Stand up socialists and stop hiding already. Be everything you can be. LOL LOL LOL But you won't. LMAO

John K: I got an idea. If socialism is such a good idea, then how about letting the money makers determine how to distribute the wealth? Ever notice that lefties only love socialism when they get to redistribute the wealth. LOL

John K: Ed, here are some charges you can indict me for, I tell pollsters that I am voting for Obama. LOL LOL LOL Remember Ed, if a conservative votes you have to hunt them down and destroy their lives for that sin. LOL LOL

Hey John K., what you said 10/20/08 at 6:42: "As I previously posted in here, I am a registered Democrat. Operation Chaos. Too lazy to change it. But when approached by Acorn a month ago on the street to register I said sure. Problem was the form acorn handed me was already marked for the Democratic party. When I said I wanted to change it to Republican they snatched it back and told me they couldn't do that."

You tried to register a second time. I was not, did not, tell you who to vote for, not even close. You are making shit up again, and not taking responsibility for what you say. You are not taking responsibility for attempt felony.

Maria, not to take issue, but that is not what John K said, nor is it something that ACORN can do on the street (at least as far as I am aware, when I changed my registration I went to the state office building to get the form). Of course, John K. also said the regisration form had the democrat box checked, and we all know that is a lie. But for the purpose of trying to make ACORN look bad, John K. claims he tried to register a second time. A felony.